Metric: Brand drug prices surge ahead of inflation rate

(From our sister publication FierceBiotech...) Drug prices moderated somewhat over the past year, but brand-name prescription prices are still soaring far ahead of inflation, according to AARP. Their report on the wholesale prices of 200 brand name medications commonly used in the US shows a 6.1 percent price hike in the 12 months through June. That's down slightly from 7.1 percent a year ago. One bright spot: The prices of 75 generic drugs remained flat. PhRMA called the report flawed because it looks at wholesale rather than retail prices and doesn't take into account discounts offered on medications.

- read this report from USA Today